China Mining 2006 – A Major Promotion

The China Mining 2006 convention and trade display was held at the Beijing
International Convention Center between 14 and 16 November 2006 and attended
by more than 2500 delegates. Geoscience Australia and the state and Northern
Territory geological surveys exhibited under the banner of Australian Government
Geoscience Group in the trade show. This promotion was coordinated by Geoscience
Australia and the Geological Survey of Western Australia.

About 70 per cent of attendees were Chinese with the major international participants
being Canada (11 per cent) and Australia (6 per cent). Interest from the Chinese
delegates was wide-ranging with particular interest in nickel, iron ore, copper,
uranium and minor metals. There was strong demand for information on the procedures
to gain approval to explore and mine in Australia as well as our general business
and regulatory environment.

Prior to the China Mining 2006 convention, an Australian Seminar was held
on 13 November. The morning session was organised by Geoscience Australia,
the Geological Survey of Western Australia, Invest Australia and the Australian
Embassy in Beijing. The morning session covered Chinese investment in the
Australian minerals sector with particular reference to exploration. This
session was an unqualified success attracting some 280 delegates (virtually
a capacity audience) and some lively questioning of the speakers. The afternoon
session on Australian investment into China was coordinated by the Australian
Embassy and the China International Mining Group.

The Chief of Geoscience Australia’s Onshore Energy and Minerals Division,
Dr James Johnson, delivered presentations at both the Australian Seminar and
the China Mining 2006 convention. His presentation ‘Securing the future
– Australia’s Potential for New Mineral Discoveries’ reviewed
Australia’s record of maintaining a strong mineral resource base which
is essential to ensure security of supply to offshore customers. He also highlighted
Australia’s strong potential for future discoveries to continue adding
to the country’s resource base providing a strong exploration program
is maintained.

Minerals exploration for the next generation

Approximately 85 senior secondary students visited Geoscience Australia during
January as part of the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) program. During
three afternoons of applied learning in the field of gold exploration the
students were divided into specialist groups to learn how to analyse real
data from the goldfields of Western Australia. They analysed maps showing
gravity (relating to density) and magnetic attraction, examined thin-sections
of rocks under microscopes, and checked geochemical analysis data. The students
also made use of geographic information systems (GIS) to examine and integrate
the different types of data.

The exercise was designed to demonstrate how the diverse disciplines of geoscience
are combined in mineral exploration and also involved the students in selection
of the most likely areas to look for a new gold deposit. It is hoped that
this introduction to the problem solving and high-tech nature of minerals
exploration together with the opportunity to talk with many of the young scientists
in the organisation will inspire some of them to undertake further studies
in geosciences.